She added: “We rely heavily on donations, grants and fundraising to make up our yearly £32k shortfall to run BYCP to its full capacity in order to keep children and young people ‘off the streets’ and involved in positive activities.

“We are very grateful and we thank all of the local residents who have donated also to Royal Mail who have kindly allowed Steve to put a smile on faces in the local community and raise much needed funds at the same time.”

Speaking to the Express about his most popular outfit, Steve said: “There’s a lot of love for Mario and Luigi.”

He recalled the most special response he received since starting dressing up in which a woman told him her grandson has started writing letters to his cousin ‘so that they can see me.’

Steve, who lives in Burnham with his wife and eight-year-old daughter Sophie, has been buying the costumes on eBay.

James Ruffell and his Ministry of Silly Walks Signs. James put up a Ministry of Silly Walks sign to encourage people to do a silly walk when they go past his house. The idea is based on a scene from the Monty Python movie. High Street, Sonning. James Ruffell